I have adopted 3 horses. One, a Standardbred off the track, is my forever guy. He has the biggest heart of any horse I have ever known. He will always be with me. Rusty, a AQHA, is trained in reining, sound and could easily be sold as a show horse. Don't know how he ended up at an auction. He will also always be with me. The last, Lassen, a QH mare. She insisted on bucking everyone off. I didn't feel she was safe to have around my kids. So, I found her a good home with a woman who was willing

Here here, ridealong. Well said!!

I would give him a chance. You said he was on his way to being a great driving pony. If you like him and he was good, give him a chance to be good again. Its not his fault that you let him sit for 2 years. Most horses are going to need some work after some battles and victorys over you. It took him 2 years to get where he is. Give him time to get back.

Pretty sure its just the pic. Haha! That is LOOOONG. Frizzie, I've been away. Did you ever get a new horse?

I have had this trouble with 2 of my horses. I take a drassage whip along with me. Just tap them on the hinney. Once they take a step forward, let off. If all you can do is get them to face the water, do that. Don't let him turn away from it. Take it slowly. One step at a time. Allow him to stand at each forward step he takes, Then ask for another. Soon he will have a foot in the water, then 2, then 3 and 4. Make him stand like that. Then turn around and go home. Praise him like crazy. One of

I hesitated reading this post as I always seem to spend the next 2 weeks frustrated and angry at people's ignorance about this issue. I deplore the argument that slaughter is humane and needed. I think that pro-slaughter people want to believe it so that they can justify using it when they don't feel like caring for an older or injured horse. Neglect and abuse will always be part of our world. It doesn't have anything to do with a lack of means or options. Some people are just mean and

I'm with Gracie. Lawyers are NEVER a good direction to take unless it is a business deal or legal issue. Once you bring lawyers into the mix, things are going to get messy. Not to mention that a lawyer is going to cost you some FAT $$$. I don't know how much the horse is worth, but lawyers are hundreds if not thousands. It doesn't sound like you have a great relationship with your mom. I'm sorry she's like that. But if they took care of and fed the horse while you were away, then

Spurs bad...dressage whip good. I would never allow even an intermediate rider to use surs on a strange horse. They can create havoc for you if you mis-use them. BUT.... I think that it is important for every rider to learn to use them properly as they can be of great help if used correctly.

ok, lets all go back to the OP. Anna, you said you support opening slaughter houses in the US that are set up for horses only. The horses would be held for no longer than 12 hours and they would be regulated to insure the animals were treated humanly. Yes? Do I have that correct? With a couple additions, I would support that. First, the horses could not be transported any longer than 8 hours from sale to slaughterhouse. Second, the horse could not be suffering pain from illness or injury. Because

All horses do silly little things that we don't understand. Its what makes them so wonderful. He is just looking for interacttion with you. He may get angry when he doesn't get what he wants. You may not be reading the signs. He may jus be frustrated. As long as he doesn't actually bite you, don't worry about it. One of my geldings always walks next to me with his ears pinned. I don't know why. But he has never tried anything. Race horse have endured a life style that is completly